27 Canadian and American organizations are calling on Prime Minister Trudeau and U.S. President Barack Obama to respect the 2012 Great Lakes Water Agreement and stop the planned transport of highly radioactive waste from Chalk River, Ontario, to the U.S.
Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility President Gordon Edwards says the Sierra Club will speak to the International Joint Commission in Toronto Wednesday.
"In order to get to the United States, you have to cross the Blue Water Bridge or some other bridge somewhere," he says. "If there is a serious accident or spill, the fact that this material is in liquid form means it can easily be dispersed into the waters of the Great Lakes."
Edwards says trucking 23,000 L of a "witch's brew" 1,100 miles over the Great Lakes water system is ludicrous, given the fact that the material has been solidified at Chalk River for 13 years.
In 2012, then Harper committed to returning highly enriched uranium inventories to the U.S. to reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism. Detractors say the threat of terrorism en route has not been adequately factored into the decision, given the rise if lone wolf attacks.
Edwards urges municipalities, First Nations and private citizens to write to their MPs and MPPs voicing their opposition.